Multispectral Food Scanning for Foreign Body Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current quality control methods for food and feed products are inadequate in detecting foreign bodies, especially in minced or mixed products, as they may be too small or hidden, leading to reduced product value and economic consequences.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing multispectral scanning with electromagnetic waves in the visible light, near-infrared (NIR), and X-ray ranges to generate coherent image data, allowing for the detection of foreign bodies by combining reflection and transmission data to determine surface texture and internal structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple spectral ranges (visible light, NIR, X-rays) are combined for scanning, then detection precision of foreign bodies is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple spectral ranges (visible light 400-700nm, NIR 700-2500nm, and X-rays) into a single integrated scanning system. Different light sources and detectors are merged to scan the same product simultaneously or sequentially, enabling comprehensive detection of foreign bodies with varying densities and compositions that cannot be detected by a single spectral range alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning system is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse detection needs. The same hardware platform can detect different types of foreign bodies (metal, plastic, bone, glass) by switching between or combining different spectral ranges, making the system universally applicable to various quality control scenarios in food and feed processing.
2Reliability
If comprehensive quality control scanning is performed on all products, then product quality is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual inspection with an automated optical scanning system that uses visible light, NIR, and X-ray sources combined with digital sensors and image processing algorithms. This substitution enables rapid, non-contact scanning of products at high speeds without requiring human intervention, thereby maintaining high productivity while achieving comprehensive quality control.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning system operates continuously as products move through the processing line on conveyors. The multiple spectral ranges scan products in sequence or simultaneously without stopping the production flow, ensuring every product receives comprehensive inspection while maintaining continuous production and high throughput.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate detection of foreign bodies and variations in product composition, improving quality control and reducing economic losses by providing detailed, coherent imaging of both surface and internal product structures.
Implementation Method 1
at least two sources for emitting electromagnetic waves selected among sources which can emit electromagnetic waves in a larger or narrower range and where the at least two sources emit electromagnetic waves with waves in different ranges and selected between the ranges 950 nm to 700 nm, 700 nm to 350 nm
Implementation Method 2
at least one sensor which can receive electromagnetic waves within part or the entire of at least one of the ranges 950 nm to 700 nm, 700 nm to 350 nm, 100 pm to 7 pm
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the sources is capable of emitting electromagnetic waves within at least a part of the range 100 pm to 7 pm
Data Source
AI summary
The method and equipment described are for coherent scanning, that is where sections of the same object are comparable in the images, of objects such as food stuff based on scanning with the utilization of electromagnetic waves from at least two ranges within vision (visible light), NIR (near infrared light) and X-rays. The method consist of determination an object's reflection in the NIR and/or vision ranges associated with the same object's transmission in the X-ray range to obtain an even higher degree of details concerning the structure of the object by determining its surface texture together with description of its inner structure and/or composition. The equipment comprises a cabinet (2), a computer (6), a camera (3), an X-ray source (4), a light source (7), and an X-ray detector (5). An additional start sensor (8) registers the presence of objects on the conveyor belt (1) and the scanning is triggered.